ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib An Overview of the Events of Saqifah The drama that was enacted about the demise of the Prophet (a.s) was over. It had to be over because it was enacted to gain time until Abū-Bakr arrived on the scene. But it created doubts in the minds of the Ansar.

They started thinking that the rumpus over providing paper and pen to the Prophet (a.s) for writing his will, the disobedience to proceed for the campaign with Usamah ibn Zayd and the imminent and vehement denial of `Umar about the Prophet’s demise were the links of the same chain. The purpose was to divert the Caliphate from its main focus and take it somewhere else.

They urgently put together a conclave at Saqifah Banū-Sa`idah to owe allegiance to a person from the Ansar and render the Muhajir’s plan unsuccessful. If the Ansar were sure that the Muhajirūn will not obstruct `Ali (a.s) assuming the Caliphate, they would never have established the conclave at the Saqifah.

There conscience always raised the same call that they did at the Saqifah, “We shall owe allegiance to none other than `Ali (a.s)” In that conclave both the tribes of Ansar Aws and Khazraj participated despite their differences. Whether it was Aws or Khazraj, the dominance of one group of the Muhajirūn was not acceptable to them, nor they considered their hegemony in the interest of the Ansar.

However, the people of Khazraj were very active in organizing this conclave and one of their prominent persons, Sa`d ibn `Abadah was the secretary of the meeting and was sitting there with a quilt around his body as he was suffering from a fever at that time. He started the proceedings with his speech that was delivered in a very low tone because of his weakness. His son, Qays, repeated loudly what he said. He said, “O people of Ansar!

The precedence and importance that you have in the Faith, no other Arabs have it! The Prophet (a.s) kept inviting his people to the Right Path for ten years, but only a few persons accepted to embrace Islam. It was not in the power of a few persons to safeguard the Faith. Allah blessed you that you embraced Islam and acted as shields of protection for the Prophet (a.s) and his small group of companions! You entered the field of battle and fought for the cause.

With your swords, the proud Arabs were vanquished! The Prophet (a.s) has left this world! He was happy and satisfied with you until his last breath!